Jurgen Klopp joked that his Liverpool players tried to kill him after a tense victory at Watford on Monday night.

The Reds took a giant step towards Champions League qualification by downing the Hornets thanks to Emre Can's stunning scissor kick .

Watford rallied late with Sebastian Prodl's effort pinging back off the woodwork with just seconds remaining and Klopp has revealed his players could do him some damage if they continue to live so precariously, report the Liverpool Echo.

“I said to the players after the game that if they want to kill me, then that's a good way to try," Klopp said.

“I thought I felt something in this area (holding his chest). It was crazy, a minimum of 500 million grey hairs!

“You see the situation, we'd already defended it but the ball came back and there were three players at the far post.

“Watford tried everything for 97 minutes. We had one mistake and it could have led to a goal, that's what football at the highest level is.

“For me, the most important thing is yes, it could have happened, but we all saw in the last few days there were games that had penalties that weren't penalties. Sometimes you need that (bit of luck).

“We didn't play perfect tonight but (an equalisers) would have been really hard to accept. The boys really deserved the win.”

Klopp was making reference to controversial spot kicks that helped top-four rivals Manchester United and Manchester City earn draws on Sunday.

Can is mobbed after his goal (Image: AFP/Getty)

With Arsenal losing, Liverpool have now opened up a three-point gap in third place with three games to play.

The Reds boss, though, has downplayed the significance of his team having their own Champions League destiny in their own hands, with Liverpool knowing victories in their remaining matches would secure a top-four berth.

“It's not important,” he said. “We just need to stay focused and concentrated. I said before the game that if you're feeling pressure at this stage of the season, then you're fighting for something and that's good.

“It's positive pressure, if you want. We want to keep that pressure. We want to work hard and do everything for the points that we get. We can't accept for a second that it's going to be easy.”

The German midfielder slides in celebration (Image: Getty Images Europe)

Liverpool entertain Southampton on Sunday, and Klopp added: “If anybody here thinks that we already have the three points against Southampton then they couldn't have seen Southampton play this season because they are a real strong side. That will be another hard game for us.

“Tonight, these point nobody can take them away from us. That's the best news. Now we have time to work and prepare for the Southampton game.”